The Arizona Cardinals brought a beloved franchise legend home this offseason. Calais Campbell, the ageless defensive powerhouse, signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals weeks before the NFL Draft.
At 38 years old, Campbell was never expected to be an every-down player in 2025. He signed as a likely starter with a limited snap count. But after Arizona's massive draft haul of defensive studs, Campbell's role may be up in the air.
Calais Campbell may lose playing time after Cardinals' draft
If you're a Cardinals fan, or even a humanity fan, you probably love Calais Campbell. I do too. But there are only so many seats at the table.
The Arizona Cardinals aggressively added talent to their defensive front seven in the NFL Draft. They spent a first-round pick on Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen and took Oregon lineman Jordan Burch in the third round.
Nolen and Campbell play fairly similar roles as gap-shooting, disruptive defensive linemen best utilized in a 3-technique alignment. Burch played most of his snaps at Oregon on the edge, but he has the size and athleticism to be deployed all across the defensive front.
First and third-round picks are valuable assets. If the Cardinals were willing to spend significant draft capital to bring in Nolen and Burch, they likely intend to give the pair significant playing time. Add in Darius Robinson, Dalvin Tomlinson (who signed a fairly expensive deal with the Cardinals), Bilal Nichols, Josh Sweat, and Baron Browning Jr., and the room becomes crowded quickly.
Campbell signed a relatively cheap deal with the Cardinals late in free agency. While he's certainly a fan favorite, Arizona is not financially committed to giving him a prominent role in Jonathan Gannon's defense.
Calais Campbell should not be in any danger of losing his roster spot with the Arizona Cardinals. At the very least, he can be a mentor to young players like Walter Nolen, Jordan Burch, and Darius Robinson. But as the Cardinals' defensive outlook transforms, it's becoming more and more difficult to see where Campbell fits in.